Lei Shaw LAC

Specialty

Dr. shaw specializes in the following:

Acupuncturist

Description

Acupuncturists are trained in a traditional form of Chinese medicine called acupuncture, which involves inserting thin, sterile needles into various points in the body to relieve pain, promote healing and improve physical, mental and emotional well-being. The body points correspond with energy channels (meridians) that are stimulated during treatments (usually once a week) and are considered pathways to a life-energy force called Qi. Acupuncturists treat chronic pain like back pain, nausea and substance withdrawal. Cosmetic acupuncture focuses on reducing wrinkles and age lines. Acupuncturists are highly regulated in the United States by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM); even the needles are regulated by the FDA.

Education

Dr. shaw was educated at the following institutions:

Medical School Attended:

Not Available

Year of Graduation:

2002

Licensing

Dr. shaw received medical licensing as follows:

Medical License:

Received in 2002

State Medical License:

Issued in the state of Indiana

Insurance

Dr. shaw accepts insurance from these companies:

blue cross blue shield

aetna

cigna

united healthcare

Acceptance of particular Insurance Plans may vary, based on different office locations. As a result, we've listed Plans accepted at different locations.

Background

See what state and federal disciplinary actions (if any) have been reported against this doctor in the past five years.

Disciplinary Actions:

Not Available

Disciplinary actions are actions taken to punish or restrict physicians who have demonstrated professional misconduct. They are intended to correct the doctor's misconduct. Physicians with disciplinary actions may continue to practice, depending on the board's decision. Physicians who have had a disciplinary action in one state will often move to another state where he/she may have a clean record in that new state. Lifescript's Doctor Finder compiles disciplinary action information from all 50 states, you'll know if a physician has a disciplinary action in more than one state.

Acupuncture stimulates energy channels on the body – called Qi – that are considered pathways for vital energy. The points where the needles are inserted correspond to these energy channels, also called meridians. The number of meridians is not precisely known – some experts claim there are 14 main channels with 2,000 acupuncture points, while others claim up to 20 meridians.

According to the 2007 National Health Interview Survey, an estimated 3.1 million adults and 150,000 children in the United States used acupuncture the previous year.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates acupuncture needles, requiring they meet certain standards, including being non-toxic, sterile, labeled for single use and used only by qualified practitioners.

Acupuncturists are highly regulated in the United States by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).

Most patients feel no or minimal amounts of pain when the acupuncture needles are inserted. The needles are solid yet hair-thin. Some report feeling energized, or relaxed, during treatment sessions. Movement or a defective needle can result in pain or soreness.

Acupuncture treatment sessions usually last between 45 and 90 minutes. A patient may go for acupuncture treatment over the span of several weeks or more.

Is acupuncture safe?

In general it appears to be safe. However, there are reports to the FDA of serious adverse events such as Pneumothorax, Hepatitis, and cardiac trauma, among others.

Check credentials – acupuncturists in most states need licenses to practice; however, standards and education requirements vary by state. A license is a good indicator the acupuncture practitioner meets the state’s requirements, but it does not always ensure top-quality care.

Check with your primary care physician whether acupuncture may help your condition – do not rely on an acupuncturist without a conventional medical license to diagnose conditions.

What symptoms and conditions are typically treated by an acupuncturist?

According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, acupuncture is used to treat many types of pain. The most commonly reported use of acupuncture is for back pain, followed by joint pain, neck pain and headache pain. Research also suggests it’s effective in treating osteoarthritis, particularly knee pain.

Acupuncture has been studied as a treatment for a wide variety of conditions and pains – including substance withdrawal, postoperative dental pain, menstrual cramps, fibromyalgia, severe migraine pain and more – but it’s difficult to draw conclusions as to its effectiveness. Due to the many different acupuncture techniques, such as electrical versus manual, and variations in the controls used in studies and measuring outcomes, further research is needed to determine effectiveness.